Guidebook for Rotterdam
Food Scene
Vlaamsch Broodhuys R'dam Meent
8A MeentThey have an excellent selection of breads.
It's just across the road (less than 100 metres) and very nice and cosy. I wouldn't say it's expensive, but it's definitely not cheap either. Making a reservation is a good idea though.
10 residents recomanen
Rijntje
93A Pr. MargrietlaanIt's just across the road (less than 100 metres) and very nice and cosy. I wouldn't say it's expensive, but it's definitely not cheap either. Making a reservation is a good idea though.
Probably the best option for breakfast or lunch nearby. Not low on calories, but almost everything is homemade and delicious.
49 residents recomanen
Lof der Zoetheid
1 NoordpleinProbably the best option for breakfast or lunch nearby. Not low on calories, but almost everything is homemade and delicious.
If you like garlic, this the restaurant to go to. They use heaps of it, including in drinks and desserts. The food's really nice though, and they have a cosy courtyard which is great on warm summer evenings.
13 residents recomanen
Knoflookrestaurant 'Look
140B 's-GravendijkwalIf you like garlic, this the restaurant to go to. They use heaps of it, including in drinks and desserts. The food's really nice though, and they have a cosy courtyard which is great on warm summer evenings.
Excellent bang for your buck. If you like Thai food, that is. And it's a mere stone's throw away. Also good for takeaway.
6 residents recomanen
Yam Thai
65 StraatwegExcellent bang for your buck. If you like Thai food, that is. And it's a mere stone's throw away. Also good for takeaway.
Proper French-inspired restaurant. You'll find white tablecloths, good wine, very friendly staff, and things suchs as oysters and canard. Do make a reservation well in advance though.
35 residents recomanen
Mevrouw Meijer
37B Gerard ScholtenstraatProper French-inspired restaurant. You'll find white tablecloths, good wine, very friendly staff, and things suchs as oysters and canard. Do make a reservation well in advance though.
Decent pizzas closeby. Nice for a quick sit-down. Or have it home-delivered if you like.
16 residents recomanen
Ciao Ciao Delicatessen
94A BergwegDecent pizzas closeby. Nice for a quick sit-down. Or have it home-delivered if you like.
Very popular restaurant at one of the hippest streets in Rotterdam. The Mediterranean-inspired menu is fair and very affordable, especially given the location. They also do breakfast.
28 residents recomanen
Hotel Bazar
Witte de WithstraatVery popular restaurant at one of the hippest streets in Rotterdam. The Mediterranean-inspired menu is fair and very affordable, especially given the location. They also do breakfast.
The best gelateria in Rotterdam. Especially the pistachio is to die for, even though you'll pay a little extra for that flavour. It also has some smaller branches that are popping up all over town.
24 residents recomanen
De IJssalon
69-A MeentThe best gelateria in Rotterdam. Especially the pistachio is to die for, even though you'll pay a little extra for that flavour. It also has some smaller branches that are popping up all over town.
Coffee bar and children's book shop in one. If you have small children and like coffee, this is a top spot nearby. They also have homemade cakes and very affordable drinks and bites for the little ones.
10 residents recomanen
Ver Van Hier
69 KleiwegCoffee bar and children's book shop in one. If you have small children and like coffee, this is a top spot nearby. They also have homemade cakes and very affordable drinks and bites for the little ones.
If you can't be bothered to go home and cook after you've visited Wine bar Mendoza around the corner, this Argentinian-style restaurant is a great option for meat lovers.
11 residents recomanen
Gauchos aan de Plas
149 WeissenbruchlaanIf you can't be bothered to go home and cook after you've visited Wine bar Mendoza around the corner, this Argentinian-style restaurant is a great option for meat lovers.
Large iconic bar and restaurant. This was the place from where thousands of people emigrated to the United States. Hence, the premises still ooze the grandeur of times long past. A very popular tourist activity is arriving by (very fast) water taxi from the north side of the river.
245 residents recomanen
Hotel New York
1 KoninginnenhoofdLarge iconic bar and restaurant. This was the place from where thousands of people emigrated to the United States. Hence, the premises still ooze the grandeur of times long past. A very popular tourist activity is arriving by (very fast) water taxi from the north side of the river.
On the south side of the river Maas you'll find this former warehouse with all kinds of local foodstores. Famous in Rotterdam are 'De Kaapse Brouwers' who brew a great selection of beers. Sometimes there's live music too. When the weather's good you can sit outside on the riverfront and enjoy the view of the famous Hotel New York.
228 residents recomanen
Fenix Food Factory
1025 Nico KoomanskadeOn the south side of the river Maas you'll find this former warehouse with all kinds of local foodstores. Famous in Rotterdam are 'De Kaapse Brouwers' who brew a great selection of beers. Sometimes there's live music too. When the weather's good you can sit outside on the riverfront and enjoy the view of the famous Hotel New York.
A bustling Italian restaurant with decent, not too pricy food.
29 residents recomanen
Restaurant Gusto
40 Schiedamse VestA bustling Italian restaurant with decent, not too pricy food.
Getting Around
The nearest train station. Walking distance (say, 10 minutes). Trains into the city go twice an hour and take exactly 5 minutes.
Rotterdam, Station Noord
The nearest train station. Walking distance (say, 10 minutes). Trains into the city go twice an hour and take exactly 5 minutes.
Rotterdam Central Station is - of course - the most important public transportation hub in town. And it's a pretty nice and modern building too,
14 residents recomanen
Rotterdam Central Station (ATM)
Rotterdam Central Station is - of course - the most important public transportation hub in town. And it's a pretty nice and modern building too,
Essentials
AH Kleiweg
45 KleiwegThe nearest supermarket. Not the cheapest though.
A little further than Albert Heijn, but quite a bit cheaper. Especially for fruit and veggies.
37 residents recomanen
Lidl
26 BergwegA little further than Albert Heijn, but quite a bit cheaper. Especially for fruit and veggies.
Parks & Nature
Prinsenmolenpark
PrinsemolenparkJust around the corner, and great for a stroll at any time of the day.
Nice lake, surrounded by a large park. Usually good for swimming too, although it sometimes gets infected with blue-green algae in summer. If so, signposts will let you know you'd better stay out of the water. You could always opt for the free kids' pool as well.
The park also boasts a petting zoo, a few playgrounds, large grassy areas where you can play ball games and some bars and restaurants. Also, it's possible to rent (small) sailing boats.
For kids eight years and older there's a really cool adventure track high up in the trees. Book your tickets at www.funforest.nl.
140 residents recomanen
Kralingse Bos
Nice lake, surrounded by a large park. Usually good for swimming too, although it sometimes gets infected with blue-green algae in summer. If so, signposts will let you know you'd better stay out of the water. You could always opt for the free kids' pool as well.
The park also boasts a petting zoo, a few playgrounds, large grassy areas where you can play ball games and some bars and restaurants. Also, it's possible to rent (small) sailing boats.
For kids eight years and older there's a really cool adventure track high up in the trees. Book your tickets at www.funforest.nl.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great local brewery. Try the triple or the Noordtsingel.
This is probably the best place in town for live music. Good vibes and very laid back atmosphere. Also good for just some drinks or a bite.
64 residents recomanen
Rotown
19 Nieuwe BinnenwegThis is probably the best place in town for live music. Good vibes and very laid back atmosphere. Also good for just some drinks or a bite.
The best bar in the world, according to a poll among Lonely Planet readers. Perhaps that's stretching it a little far, but it's definitely a very popular bar in a very popular street. And it has an interesting clientele; students, artists and business people mix freely.
59 residents recomanen
De Witte Aap
78 Witte de WithstraatThe best bar in the world, according to a poll among Lonely Planet readers. Perhaps that's stretching it a little far, but it's definitely a very popular bar in a very popular street. And it has an interesting clientele; students, artists and business people mix freely.
It's slightly posh, but really nice to hang out for a wine or two in the late afternoon when you're leisurely strolling around the lake. It's exactly halfway. Just remember that when you're about to order another one ;-).
12 residents recomanen
Mendoza
149 WeissenbruchlaanIt's slightly posh, but really nice to hang out for a wine or two in the late afternoon when you're leisurely strolling around the lake. It's exactly halfway. Just remember that when you're about to order another one ;-).
One of the hippest streets in the city to go for a drink, have a nice dinner or visit a modern art gallery.
324 residents recomanen
Witte de Withstraat
Witte de WithstraatOne of the hippest streets in the city to go for a drink, have a nice dinner or visit a modern art gallery.
Excellent local brewery. Even restaurant Fred in Kralingen (2 Michelin stars) serve their beer. Try the triple or the Noordtsingel.
20 residents recomanen
brewery Noordt
46 ZaagmolenkadeExcellent local brewery. Even restaurant Fred in Kralingen (2 Michelin stars) serve their beer. Try the triple or the Noordtsingel.
Everything Else
Petting zoo. Great for children. It's situated near the most famous lake in Rotterdam; the Kralingse Plas. It's very nice to stroll around the lake, too.
Kinderboerderij de Kraal
60 LangepadPetting zoo. Great for children. It's situated near the most famous lake in Rotterdam; the Kralingse Plas. It's very nice to stroll around the lake, too.
Kinderboerderij de Wilgenhof
76 RingdijkPetting zoo. Great for children.
Very nice petting zoo. Not the nearest, but getting there is half the fun. If you're cycling, that is. It's a nice picturesque bike ride along the river Rotte. You'll pass old windmills, meadows with cows, sheep and horses and the area is teeming with birdlife. Also, you'll find a cafe here and there.
Kinderboerderij De Blijde Wei
Very nice petting zoo. Not the nearest, but getting there is half the fun. If you're cycling, that is. It's a nice picturesque bike ride along the river Rotte. You'll pass old windmills, meadows with cows, sheep and horses and the area is teeming with birdlife. Also, you'll find a cafe here and there.
Cuddle goats, ride a pony, hang out in the haystack and get yourself wet and dirty in the natural playground whilst mom and dad have a coffee.
Experience Farm Schieveen
220 Oude BovendijkCuddle goats, ride a pony, hang out in the haystack and get yourself wet and dirty in the natural playground whilst mom and dad have a coffee.
Arts & Culture
Very good art museum with a collection of Dutch and European masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, like Rembrandt, Bosch, Van Gogh and Dali.
308 residents recomanen
Museu Boijmans Van Beuningen
18 MuseumparkVery good art museum with a collection of Dutch and European masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, like Rembrandt, Bosch, Van Gogh and Dali.
Interesting exhibitions that change regularly. From contemporay art to photography, design and fashion. The Kunsthal was designed by the famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
255 residents recomanen
Kunsthal Rotterdam
341 WestzeedijkInteresting exhibitions that change regularly. From contemporay art to photography, design and fashion. The Kunsthal was designed by the famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
This Natural History museum (located just opposite of the Kunsthal) is a very charming and interesting. It's also very nice for children.
26 residents recomanen
Museu d'Història Natural
345 WestzeedijkThis Natural History museum (located just opposite of the Kunsthal) is a very charming and interesting. It's also very nice for children.
A unique children's museum for contemporary art, where children and their parents can explore art in an interactive way. Usually children can participate in workshops that take place next to the exhibitions.
10 residents recomanen
Villa Zebra
21 StieltjesstraatA unique children's museum for contemporary art, where children and their parents can explore art in an interactive way. Usually children can participate in workshops that take place next to the exhibitions.
Very nice museum for the whole family.
The youngest children should not forget to bring their parents to Professor Plons where you can play inside and outside with all kinds of cool 'ship' stuff.
92 residents recomanen
Museu Marítim de Rotterdam
1 LeuvehavenVery nice museum for the whole family.
The youngest children should not forget to bring their parents to Professor Plons where you can play inside and outside with all kinds of cool 'ship' stuff.